Improvement in mowing-machines



M. L. WOOD.` Mowing-Marohine.

No. 197,921. Patented Dec. 4, |817.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

MERRITT L. WOOD, OF VALLEY SPRINGS, DAKOTA TERRITORY.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOWlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,921, dated December4, 1877; application filed November 14, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERRITT L. Woon, of Valley Springs, in the Territoryof Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMowing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object an improvement in the mode of producingreciprocating motion in mowing-machines, harvesters, and other mechanismwherein such motion is desirable, without gearing; and consists inimparting an oscillating motion to a shaft by means of a waved orundulating circular track or cam formed around the axis of a wheel, ashereinafter more specifically set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a section of a mowing-machine, showing myimprovement.

Fig.` 2 is a plan view of the shaft and its connections. Fig. 3 is avertical section of camiiange and anti-friction rollers, showing theirpoints of contact with each. f

B represents the drive-wheel of a mowingmachine, provided with acircularwaved track or cam, A, whose diameter is somewhat less than theWheel. It has also a circular flange, G, of corresponding diameter,which projects over the cam and forms with it a double track, onesurface of which is undulating, the other plane.

E is a frame or truck, provided with antifriction-rollers c, in contactwith and made t0 traverse the undulating track A. These rollers arearranged at such distance apart that when one is raised upon the trackby contact with a projecting portion, the other contacts with adepressed portion, and is correspondingly lowered, as shown in Fig. 3.This truck is rigidly attached to a shaft, F, extending in a linehorizontal with the anti-friction rollers c.

H is a truck of similar construction, which is interposed between themain truck E and flange Gr, but whose position is reversed, so that itsanti-friction rollers I bear upon the plane surface of the ange. Itconnects with truck E by points or pivots J in its center, made to bearupon it in a line with the axis of shaft F, so that while the rollers oftruck E are forced to maintain a close contact with track A, it ispermitted to oscillate freely in conformity with the undulations of thetrack, and all lateral strain upon the shaft is obviated.

The shaft F is provided with bearings M O, in which it operates; and inorder to compensate for any unusual thrusts or irregularities of trackA, these. bearings are located upon vand connected by plate P, which ispivoted to the main frame, at its outer end, beneath bearing O,permitting its opposite end, upon which is bearing M, to move or swingfrom side to side, and thus adjust itself to irregularities. In order tomore fully secure this resultthe journals of rollers I are supported onelastic bearings L, which permits a sufficient yielding to overcomeobstructions that may interpose between the trucks and track. f

The machine is operated by revolving the drive-wheel B, which causes thetruck E to traverse the undulating surface of the cam A, its contactbeing maintained by the pressure of truck H against resisting flange G.The oscillating motion thus produced by the passage of truck E over thisundulating surface is communicated, through shaft F and its arm D andwrist-pin K, to the sickle-bar or other device connected therewith. l

I am aware thatcommunicating motion to a sickle-bar by means of a camattached to a drive-wheel is not new, and I do not claim it, broadly;but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The drive-wheel having the double track,

consisting of the cam A and liange G,in com bination with the trucks EII and shaft F, constructed substantially as described, and for thepurpose specified.

2. The pivoted plate P, bearings M O, and shaft F, all arranged andcombined substantiallyas described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as,

MEREITT L. Woon.

Witnesses WM. HALL, ALF. LARsoN.

